Plan to Rename New Medical Centre After Meredith Grey
Rebranding would aim to bring in extra funds for the NHS
The new medical centre on Fishers Lane opened this week
April 1, 2025
Chiswick’s new medical centre on Dolman Road could be named after Meredith Grey if a proposal for a rebrand is accepted.
The arrangement, which is understood to have been proposed by representatives of the US network which broadcasts the long-running medical series, would provide an extra source of revenue for the new facility.
The construction of the new Chiswick Health Centre on Fisher’s Lane was a joint project between NHS North West London, NHS Property Services, and Hounslow Council. It houses three local GP practices—Chiswick Health Practice, Chiswick Medical Practice, and West4GPs—alongside community and mental health services. It also serves as the base for the Chiswick Primary Care Network (PCN), aiming to enhance healthcare services for over 60,000 local residents.
The putative deal with the US TV company, which is believed run for 15 years and worth a potential $4million would mean the facility would become the ‘Meredith Grey Center’ also require consulting rooms to be named after characters from the series.
Dr. Meredith Grey is the fictional heroine of medical drama Grey’s Anatomy and one of the world’s most famous doctors. It is the longest-running scripted show currently running in the US having been first broadcast in 2005. Now in its 21st series it traces the career of Dr Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, from her first posting in a hospital in Seattle. It has received a Golden Globe award for Best Television Series and numerous Emmy award nominations.
More recently the show has dipped in the ratings, although it remains one of the most popular for streaming. The producers are believed to be looking to boost overseas ratings and branding agreements with real life medical facilities are seen as a good opportunity to revive viewing figures going forward.
Ellen Pompeo has declined an invitation to attend the renaming ceremony
The proponents of the scheme say the idea is to honour “a globally recognised medical icon” whose on-screen heroics have inspired countless real-life healthcare professionals to perform dramatic hallway monologues.
Suggestions to name the centre after a local dignitary or a historical figure from the UK medical field were dismissed as failing to appeal to the key 25-42 demographic who are not using medical facilities as much as other age groups. A short list was drawn up which included options such as the Gregory House House or the Doogie Howser MD Center.
We have been able to get confirmation from either the NHS or the council as to whether they are willing to embrace the plan but it is understood that, if they give it the green light, as well as the building being renamed you will be able to see your GP in the Dr. Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepherd room or have your bunions looked at in the Cristina Yang Suite.
A sticking point may be a requirement for the staff to be improbably attractive, have complicated, overlapping relationships and have at least one case a week which presents a heart-rending medical dilemma.
Avril Amadan, a reimagineering consultant working on the project, dismissed the reservations of some medical professional about the ethics of the proposals by saying that, as she has watched every episode of Grey’s Anatomy as well as the spin-off series, she knows more about patient care than they do.
She added, “The practice of selling naming rights is well established in other industries with most rugby stadia now named after insurance companies and our local football ground is a vacuum cleaner. There is no reason for the NHS not to take advantage of this same opportunity so that any revenue left after advisory fees can be put back into health care. It’s not as if naming medical buildings after fictional characters hasn’t been done before in this country, there are several called Florence Nightingale.”
Ellen Pompeo has been invited to attend an official renaming ceremony to which the Mayor of Hounslow and local councillors would be invited but her agent said she was unavailable on whatever date it was taking place. It is therefore to proposed to book a look-a-like actor to cut the ribbon.
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